Just as the switch from incandescent to fluorescent lights is starting to happen, it looks like LED lights are about to arrive. New ways of building the lights make them cheap enough to be practical, and they last 10 times as long for 1/3 the power of a fluorescent, without any mercury in the bulb.

Researchers have developed a new semiconductor ink that will allow for flexible monitors.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

The Oscar nominees have been announced. I think I'm at an all-time low for number I've seen (even counting special effects and animated categories, I've seen 2 nominated films).

UK scientists have developed a topical cream that stops virus replication and transmission if used within a week before exposure to Herpes. The research could lead to a vaccine or help for other viruses.

SciFi Wire has an article on long-delayed sequels. It seems funny they are making it sound like a competition over which fans waited the longest, when some of their examples are for books where a sequel was never expected.

CNet has an interesting article about an invention that turns trash into energy through gasification. It takes up about 3 parking spaces, looks like a truck, and turns the trash from a building into the energy it needs.

Last Friday, John Scalzi was at Borderlands Books in SF for a very funny reading session with Mary Robinette Kowal. (I was there, but way in the back, so you can't see me in the photo he posted.) If you missed it, he has started to post excerpts on his blog: The Petmaster 2000 improv and Alternate History Search Results are available now with more to come later.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

New iTunes songs may not have copy protection, but they do have tracking information. Each song contains account information of the owner.

Microsoft has a new phone app that turns the camera and WiFi into a barcode reader that links to information. Sources: istartedsomething analysis (courtesy of slashdot) and CNet article about the amusing origins.

The rules for nominating Nebula awards have been changed. I'm curious to see how this will change the selected works in the next few years.

Sanctuary will be returning for a 2nd season later this year. No date was given, but the 1st season started in October, so that would be a good guess. (This isn't a surprise, but I'm giving confirmation since I was asked.)

Friday, January 9, 2009

A company providing DRM authentication for a portion of Fictionwise downloads is shutting down at the end of the month. They are replacing the affected titles, but I recommend anyone with a Fictionwise bookshelf check if their titles are OK before 1/31. See: Article from Techdirt and FAQ from Fictionwise.

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Beatles songs are now available for free through a Norwegian podcast (available through iTunes).

Amazon has partnered with Roku to deliver all their Unbox movie downloads to the Netflix box on-demand.

SciFi Wire takes a look at midseason genre shows - worth looking at to remember when things are coming back (part 1 is network, part 2 is cable). I'm looking forward to 7 out of the 11 shows, and I might watch the pilot for another.

Friday, January 2, 2009

The new Doctor Who has been announced as Matt Smith (not Paterson Joseph like everyone was betting). He will be the youngest Doctor (at 26). I haven't seen him in anything yet. Sources: The UK Telegraph, Zap2It, Futon Critic.

RIP Pat Hingle. The longtime character actor best known as playing Commissioner Gordon in 4 Batman movies has died at 84.

British scientists have developed a molecule that coats and neutralizes undesirable substances in the bloodstream, including medications that are no longer needed, poisons, alcohol, and venom. In 3 minutes (the time it takes to circulate), the substances can effectively be removed from the bloodstream.